[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 95 (Friday, May 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28488-28489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11370]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XP18


Marine Mammals; File No. 14327

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Marine Fisheries 
Service's National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML), 7600 Sand Point 
Way, Seattle, WA 98115 [Principal Investigator: Thomas Gelatt, Ph.D.], 
has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 14327.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before June 16, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the 
Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species home 
page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 14327-01 
from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the Permits and Conservation Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910; phone (301) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above. 
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by 
email to

[[Page 28489]]

[email protected]. Please include the File No. in the subject 
line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the 
address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Adams or Courtney Smith, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 14327 is 
requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing 
the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.), the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting 
of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226), and the 
Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Permit No. 14327, issued on August 17, 2009 (74 FR 44823), 
authorizes NMML to investigate population status and trends, 
demographic parameters, health and condition, and foraging ecology of 
northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) in U.S. waters, including 
rookeries and haulouts in CA California and AK Alaska. Research on the 
San Miguel Island stock involves: Capture, restraint, sampling, and 
incidental disturbance. Research on the Eastern Pacific stock involves: 
Capture, restraint, sampling, and incidental disturbance. The permit 
also authorizes research-related mortality of fur seals from the San 
Miguel Island Stock and the Eastern Pacific stock. Western DPS Steller 
sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and California sea lions (Zalophus 
californianus) may be harassed annually incidental to the research. See 
tables in permit application for numbers of takes by species, stock and 
activity.
    A 5-year amendment is requested to continue the long term 
monitoring and assessment of Northern fur seal population and 
demographic parameters; health and disease trends; and foraging habits 
and ecology. Specifically, the requested amendment will: Add new 
methods (aerial surveys) and authorize associated incidental 
disturbance; edit methods (tag resighting observations) and authorize 
increased associated incidental disturbance; authorize existing 
procedures (nasal, vaginal, and fecal swab sampling) for/at other 
existing projects/locations; authorize new procedures (ocular swab and 
vibrissae sampling); add new species (harbor seals; Phoca vitulina) and 
authorize their disturbance incidental to northern fur seal research 
activities; and, modify protocols (tooth extraction, pup production 
estimates).
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that 
the effects of the activities proposed are consistent with the 
Preferred Alternative in the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement for Steller Sea Lion and Northern Fur Seal Research (NMFS 
2007) and that issuance of the requested permit amendment would not 
have a significant adverse impact on the human environment.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: May 13, 2014.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-11370 Filed 5-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P